Photo-electric converting module

ABSTRACT

An optical-electric converting module includes a printed circuit board (PCB) and an optical-electric coupling element. The PCB includes a supporting surface, at least one laser diode, and at least one photo diode. The at least one laser diode and the at least one photo diode are positioned on the supporting surface and electrically connected to the PCB. The supporting surface defines at least one locating hole. The optical-electric coupling element includes a lower surface facing the supporting surface. The optical-electric coupling element defines a first cavity in the lower surface. The optical-electric coupling element includes at least one locating pole extending from the lower surface. The optical-electric coupling element is detachably connected to the supporting surface through the engagement of the at least one locating pole and the least one first locating hole, with each laser diode and each photo diode being received in the first cavity.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an optical-electric converting module.

2. Description of Related Art

An optical-electric converting module usually includes a circuit board, a number of light emitters, a number of light receivers, and an optical-electric coupling member. The light emitters and the light receivers are mounted on and electrically connected to the circuit board. The optical-electric coupling member includes a number of coupling lenses and is adhered to the circuit board with adhesive. Each of the light emitters and the light receivers is precisely aligned with a coupling lens. In use, light beams emitted by the light emitter project into the optical-electric coupling member through a coupling lens and are then emitted out from the optical-electric coupling member. External light beams are projected into the optical-electric coupling member, passing through a coupling lens, and are then are projected into a light receiver. The optical-electric coupling member is adhered to the circuit board by the adhesive and the adhesive may not be strong enough to withstand shocks and bumps, the optical-electric coupling member may shift when an external force is applied, resulting in misalignment between the coupling lenses and the light emitters and the light receivers.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide an optical-electric converting module which can overcome the above-mentioned limitations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is an assembled, isometric view of an optical-electric converting module, according to a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the optical-electric converting module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but viewed from another angle.

FIG. 4 is an exploded, isometric view of an optical-electric converting module, according to a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but viewed from another angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-3 show an optical-electric converting module 100, according to a first embodiment. The optical-electric converting module 100 includes a printed circuit board (PCB) 10 and an optical-electric coupling element 20. The optical-electric coupling element 20 is detachably connected to the PCB 10.

The PCB 10 includes a supporting surface 101 and a rear surface 102 facing away from the supporting surface 101. The supporting surface 101 defines four locating holes 103. Four photoelectric conversion chips, such as two laser diodes 104 and two photo diodes 105, are positioned on the supporting surface 101. A driving chip 106 is also positioned on the supporting surface 101. The driving chip 106 connects with the two laser diodes 104 and the two photo diodes 105. The driving chip 106 drive the laser diodes 104 to emit light, in addition, is used for the demodulation of data in the light received by the photo diodes 105.

The optical-electric coupling element 20 includes a first side surface 21, an upper surface 22 and a lower surface 23 facing away from the upper surface 22. The upper surface 22 is substantially parallel to the lower surface 23. The first side surface 21 substantially perpendicularly connects the upper surface 22 to the lower surface 23. The optical-electric coupling element 20 defines a first cavity 231 in the lower surface 23, four first coupling lenses 28 are formed at bottom portion 2311 of the first cavity 231. In the embodiment, all of the first coupling lenses 28 are convex lenses and are integrally formed with the optical-electric coupling element 20.

The optical-electric coupling element 20 includes four locating poles 230 perpendicularly extending downwards from the lower surface 23. In the embodiment, each locating pole 230 spatially corresponds to one locating hole 103. The second locating poles 230 are symmetrical about and surround the first cavity 231. The shape and size of the locating poles 230 correspond to the shape and size of the locating holes 103. As such, when in assembling, the locating poles 230 are inserted into the locating holes 103 as a pinch fit to firmly attach the optical-electric coupling element 20 onto the supporting surface 101 of the PCB 10, with each of the first coupling lenses 28 aligning with a laser diode 104 or a photo diode 105. When in disassembling, the locating poles 230 are detached from the locating holes 103 via manually pulling the optical-electric coupling element 20 along a direction away from the PCB 10 or pulling the PCB 10 along a direction away from the optical-electric coupling element 20.

In the embodiment, the locating poles 230 are integrally formed with the optical-electric coupling element 20. Alternatively, the locating poles 230 and the optical-electric coupling element 20 may be separately formed. The locating poles 230 can be attached to the optical-electric coupling element 20 by adhesive, plastic welding or other attachment method. All of the second locating poles 230 have essentially identical height to promote even loading.

The optical-electric coupling element 20 also defines a second cavity 221 in the upper surface 22. The second cavity 221 includes a sloped surface 2211. An included angle between the upper surface 22 and the sloped surface 2211 is about 45 degrees. An angle between an optical axis of each first coupling lens 28 and the sloped surface 2211 is therefore about 45 degrees.

The optical-electric coupling element 20 also defines a receiving cavity 211 in the first side surface 21. The receiving cavity 211 includes a vertical surface 2110 substantially perpendicular to the upper surface 22. The vertical surface 2110 forms four second coupling lenses 26. In the embodiment, all of the second coupling lenses 26 are convex lenses and are integrally formed with the optical-electric coupling element 20. Each of the second coupling lenses 26 spatially corresponds to one of the first coupling lenses 28. Two positioning poles 210 perpendicularly extend upwards from the first side surface 21. In the embodiment, the two positioning poles 210 are symmetrical about the receiving cavity 211.

In use, light emitted from the two laser diodes 104 is directed into the optical-electric coupling element 20 by two of the first coupling lenses 28, and the light path is bent about 90 degrees by the sloped surface 2211. In the embodiment, the second coupling lenses 26 are positioned on the light path from the sloped surface 2211. As such, the light is finally reflected into two optical fibers (not shown) by the second coupling lenses 26. A process of the photo diodes 105 receiving light is the reverse of that of the laser diodes 104 emitting light.

In other embodiments, the numbers of the laser diodes 104, the photo diodes 105, the first coupling lenses 28 and the second coupling lenses 26 can be changed depending on need.

FIGS. 4-5 show an optical-electric converting module 100 a, in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment. The optical-electric converting module 100 a is essentially similar to the optical-electric converting module 100 in the first embodiment, except that the PCB 30 defines only one “U” shaped locating hole 301. The optical-electric coupling element 40 includes only one locating pole 401 perpendicularly extending downwards from the lower surface 41 and spatially corresponding to the locating hole 301. When disassembling, the locating pole 401 is detached from the locating hole 301 via pulling the optical-electric coupling element 40 along a direction away from the PCB 30 or pulling the PCB 30 along a direction away from the optical-electric coupling element 40.

It will be understood that the above particular embodiments are shown and described by way of illustration only. The principles and the features of the present disclosure may be employed in various and numerous embodiment thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure as claimed. The above-described embodiments illustrate the possible scope of the disclosure but do not restrict the scope of the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An optical-electric converting module, comprising: a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a supporting surface, at least one laser diode and at least one photo diode, the at least one laser diode and the at least one photo diode positioned on the supporting surface and electrically connected to the PCB, the supporting surface defining at least one locating hole; and an optical-electric coupling element comprising a lower surface facing the supporting surface, the optical-electric coupling element defining a first cavity in the lower surface, the optical-electric coupling element comprising at least one locating pole perpendicularly extending downwards from the lower surface and spatially corresponding to the at least one locating hole, the optical-electric coupling element detachably connected to the supporting surface of the PCB through the engagement of the at least one locating pole and the at least one locating hole, with each laser diode and each photo diode being received in the first cavity.
 2. The optical-electric converting module of claim 1, wherein the PCB comprises a rear surface facing away from the supporting surface, the at least one locating hole running through the supporting surface, the at least one locating pole is inserted into the at least one locating hole as a pinch fit to firmly attach the optical-electric coupling element onto the PCB.
 3. The optical-electric converting module of claim 1, wherein the shape and size of the at least one locating pole corresponds to the shape and size of the at least one locating hole.
 4. The optical-electric converting module of claim 3, wherein the supporting surface defines four locating holes, the optical-electric coupling element comprises four locating poles perpendicularly extending downwards from the lower surface, each first locating pole spatially corresponds to a first locating hole.
 5. The optical-electric converting module of claim 3, wherein the PCB only defines a single “U” shaped locating hole, and the optical-electric coupling element only comprises a single “U” shaped locating pole perpendicularly extending downwards from the lower surface and spatially corresponding to the “U” shaped locating hole.
 6. The optical-electric converting module of claim 1, wherein the at least one locating pole is capable of being detached from the at least one locating hole via pulling the optical-electric coupling element along a direction away from the PCB or pulling the PCB along a direction away from the optical-electric coupling element.
 7. The optical-electric converting module of claim 1, wherein the at least one locating pole is integrally formed with the optical-electric coupling element.
 8. The optical-electric converting module of claim 1, wherein the at least one locating pole is attached to the optical-electric coupling element.
 9. The optical-electric converting module of claim 1, wherein the first cavity comprising a bottom portion, the bottom portion forms at least two first coupling lenses, and each of the at least two first coupling lenses aligning with a respective one of the at least one laser diode an the at least one photo diode.
 10. The optical-electric converting module of claim 9, wherein all of the at least two first coupling lenses are convex lenses and are integrally formed with the optical-electric coupling element.
 11. The optical-electric converting module of claim 10, wherein the optical-electric coupling element comprises an upper surface facing away from the lower surface, the upper surface is substantially parallel with the lower surface, the optical-electric coupling element defines a second cavity in the upper surface, the second cavity comprises a sloped surface, and an included angle between the upper surface and the sloped surface is about 45 degrees.
 12. The optical-electric converting module of claim 11, wherein an included angle between an optical axis of each first coupling lens and the sloped surface is about 45 degrees.
 13. The optical-electric converting module of claim 11, wherein the optical-electric coupling element comprises a side surface, the side surface perpendicularly connects the upper surface and the lower surface, the optical-electric coupling element defines a receiving cavity in the side surface, the receiving cavity comprises a vertical surface substantially perpendicular to the upper surface, the vertical surface forms at least two second coupling lenses, and each of the at least two second coupling lenses corresponds to a respective one of the at least two first coupling lenses.
 14. The optical-electric converting module of claim 13, wherein the at least two second coupling lenses are positioned on a light path from the sloped surface.
 15. The optical-electric converting module of claim 14, wherein all of the at least two second coupling lenses are convex lenses and are integrally formed with the optical-electric coupling element.
 16. The optical-electric converting module of claim 13, wherein the optical-electric coupling element comprises two positioning poles perpendicularly extending from the side surface.
 17. The optical-electric converting module of claim 16, wherein the two positioning poles are symmetrical about the receiving cavity. 